'Slow' pace of progress is 'holding back' Mayo town

A Castlebar councillor has claimed that Mayo County Council is holding back further progress in the county town due to its "slow" approach to capital projects.

Describing Lough Lannagh and surrounding amenities as a world attraction, Cllr Blackie Gavin told the council's Economic and Enterprise Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) meeting last week that “capital projects are slow to move” and are being “scaled back".

“A lot of our capital projects are slow to move and scaled back. Castlebar is a great place to live and work. We have the Lough Lannagh Leisure Complex, and we are driving this forward to make a centre of excellence of Mayo, linking the three towns of Castlebar, Ballina and Westport. People come from all over the world who can’t believe what we have, between the Dragon Boats, the Park Run and all the activity going on at the lake.

“We are trying to extend the walks for the last number of years, out to Bilberry and back into Islandeady, but are making no progress. I have been pushing for more sporting facilities, a climbing wall, extensions to the greenway, but just can’t seem to get them over the line either. It is shockingly frustrating and is all down to the loss of the town council. When we had that, we were pushing capital projects all the time and the best money we spent is the development of Lough Lannagh, which is the jewel in the crown today. You need to invest in these facilities because if you don’t, we won’t attract anyone.” 

Cllr Gavin added that back in 2014 he voted in favour of an Olympic-size swimming pool being for Castlebar, adding: “It is a lost opportunity that we did not build one as it would have brought people from all over the world through Knock Airport. Last year during the council visit to the Milwaukee Irish Festival, we visited Iowa University and what they have on offer in the city is world class, between an Olympic-size swimming pool, climbing walls and indoor running track. That all attracts people to the city because what people like now is all about wellbeing and keep fit. If you have the facilities people will travel and while we have some great ones, getting some more is all down to money."

Cllr Gavin said Castlebar had received €11.5m through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund but it remains unspent a decade later.

"We are not driving it forward and it is frustrating to see the funding streams coming in and nothing happening. Local authorities should get 100% grant aid and move these projects on and there should be no need for match funding. It’s all just a talking shop at the moment with nothing happening and is quite frustrating.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.